Constant current circuit

ABSTRACT

A constant current circuit including an emitter follower stage consisting of a transistor and a resistance connected in series thereto, an output stage connected in cascade with the emitter follower stage, and two diodes connected in series between the base of the transistor and an external power source, whereby a desired output current which flows through said output stage is obtained by supplying predetermined currents to the diodes and the emitter follower stage respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a constant current circuit and, more particularly to a constant current circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit which can supply a relatively large current without enlargement of the chip size.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In semiconductor integrated circuits, diodes and transistors formed on the same pellet can be made with matching characteristics and therefore a constant current circuit in which the current is equal to or amounts to several times the bias current can easily be made. Now, in the known costant current circuit wherein a diode D for a bias stage is connected to the emitter of an output transistor Q, the emitter regions of the diode D and transistor Q are formed so that the ratio of those emitter areas is 1:N, for instance. In this case, the relationship of the constant current output I₂ flowing through the collector of the transistor Q to the bias current I₁ flowing through the diode D becomes I₂ /I₁ = N, and in the case for which the value of N is close to 1 it is possible to obtain a constant current circuit with an extremely simple structure. If, however, the current consumption in the integrated circuit as a whole must be made small, for instance if a constant current output of 10 mA is to be obtained, then in order to make the bias current 1 mA, the emitter area of the transistor Q must be given a value which is 10 times that of the emitter area of the diode D, and therefore the chip size becomes large and this is therefore disadvantageous.

Also, if the aforesaid area ratio is made less than 10, for example, then the bias current is increased, and the current cnsumption in the integrated circuit as a whole increases and therefore this too is disadvantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a constant current circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit whose power consumption and chip size are small.

Another object of this invention is to provide a constant current circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit whose bias current is small.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a constant current circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit suitable for a large constant current output.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved constant current circuit whose characteristics are independent of the temperature.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are attained by the provision of a constant current circuit formed on a single semiconductor pellet which comprises an emitter follower stage having an input and an output and including a transistor and a resistance connected between the emitter of the transistor and an external power source, an output stage including a transistor whose base is connected to the output of the emitter follower stage and whose emitter is connected to the external power source, whereby its collector current becomes an output current, two diodes connected in series between the input of the emitter follower stage and the external power source and current power source means for supplying current to the diodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a constant current circuit according to one embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic circuit diagrams showing constant current circuits according to other embodiments of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the constant current circuit according to one embodiment of this invention will now be described. Diodes D₁ and D₂ are diode - connected transistors, that is, the collector and base of an NPN transistor are connected and made the anode, and the emitter is made the cathode. The anode of diode D₂ is connected to the cathode of diode D₁, and the cathode of diode D₂ is grounded. A current source I for bias current is connected to the anode of diode D₁. This current source I may be a resistance connected to a voltage source. These diodes and an external voltage source form a bias stage. The base of an NPN transistor Q₁ is connected to the anode of diode D₁, the emitter of the transistor Q₁ is grounded through a resistance R₁, and the collector of the transistor Q₂ is connected to a power source (not shown in the drawing). Accordingly an emitter follower stage is formed by the transistor Q₁ and the resistance R₁. In this case, the input point A of the emitter follower stage is the base of transistor Q₁, and the output point B is the emitter of transistor Q₁. The base of the NPN transistor Q₂ is connected to the emitter of transistor Q₁ and the emitter of transistor Q₂ is grounded, and the collector current of transistor Q₂ becomes the output current. That is to say, Q₂ is the output transistor.

Next, an explanation of the relationship of the bias current I₁, collector current I₂ of transistor Q₁ and collector current I₃ of transistor Q₂ or output current will be made. In order to simplify the explanation, the emitter areas of transistors Q₁ and Q₂ and diodes D₁ and D₂ are taken equal by assuming that the influence of base currents of transistors Q₁ and Q₂ can be disregarded. The voltage V_(BE) between the respective bases and emitters of D₁ and D₂ and of transistors Q₁ and Q₂ becomes ##EQU1##

Here, K is Boltzmann's constant, T is the absolute temperature, q is the quantity of electricity of an electron, I_(c) is the collector current and I_(s) is the saturation current. Since diodes D₁ and D₂, and transistors Q₁ and Q₂ are formed in the same pellet, the values of I_(s) are equal, and also KT/q can be regarded a constant, and therefore the base-emitter voltage V_(BE) of transistor Q₂ is given by the following equation (by subtracting the potential at point B from the potential at point A) ##EQU2## also ##EQU3## and therefore the relationship between I₁, I₂ and I₃ is ##EQU4## and accordingly

    I.sub.1.sup.2 = I.sub.2 I.sub.3                            (1)

accordingly, in order to set the ratio of I₁ to I₃ as 1:N, for example, the value of I₂ may be made I/N of I₁, and therefore a constant current output is obtained without making the emitter area large. Furthermore, the output current is independent of the temperature as shown in equation (1). Also, while for the purpose of the description the emitter areas of all the transistors and all the diodes have been made equal, even if the size of the emitter areas of the various elements are different this merely results in insertion of a constant in the foregoing equation. Therefore, if the ratio of the areas of the emitter regions is not too large, this invention is practiced just as when the emitter areas are equal. Likewise, an output current I₃ smaller than the bias current I₁ can be obtained by making a large current I₂ flow through the emitter follower stage.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a modified constant current circuit according to this invention is illustrated, in which there are (N-1) emitter follower stages Q₁ to Q_(N-1) : the NPN transistor QN is the output transistor, and the number of diodes, D₁ to D_(N), is equal to the number of transistors, Q₁ to Q_(N-1), and Q_(N). The input point of the emitter follower stages is the base of transistor Q₁, and their output point is the emitter of transistor Q_(N-1). By means of an arrangement of this kind a large output current, I_(N+1), can be obtained with a small bias current I₁.

Referring to FIG. 3, a further modified constant current circuit according to this invention is illustrated. A resistance R₂ is connected between collector and the base of diode D₂. Ordinarily, the base current of the output transistor Q₂ influences the emitter current I_(e) of the transistor of former stage. According to this embodiment, it is possible to minimize the influence. A resistance may be formed in the diode D₁, as well.

Also, in FIGS. 1 to 3, the NPN transistors may be replaced by PNP transistors. In this case, the diodes must be connected with reversed polarity. Accordingly, the direction of current flow is reversed.

Further, the resistance in the emitter follower stage can be a direct current resistance device such as a constant current source.

As set forth above, when the present invention is used in a constant current circuit for a semiconductor integrated circuit it is possible to obtain a large output current with a small bias current, and also the required semiconductor chip size can be made small.

Obviously, numerous additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is:
 1. A constant current circuit formed on a single semiconductor pellet and comprising:an emitter following stage having an input and an output, the emitter follower stage including a first transistor having its base connected to the input, a first resistor, and means for connecting the first resistor between the emitter of the first transistor and an external reference potential; an output stage including a second transistor havings its base connected to the emitter of the emitter follower stage, and means for connecting the emitter of the second transistor to the external reference potential, whereby the collector current of the second transistor becomes an output current; a diode connected to the input of the emitter follower stage; a third transistor; a second resistor connected between the base and the collector of the third transistor; means for connecting the third transistor between the diode and the external reference potential; and current power source means for supplying current to the diode.
 2. The constant current circuit recited in claim 1 wherein the first resistor is a constant current source. 